Ultra-High resolution Acoustic Microscopy

描述(由申请人提供)： 一种新型宽带扫描声学显微镜(SAM)，用于活体成像和 提出了微细胞生物组织结构的表征方法。 它将在4.0 GHz的频率下运行，提供的分辨率低于 小于0.4微米，比商业上可获得的要小一个数量级 用于医疗诊断和无损检测应用。这个 换能器的制备方法有两种：(1)采用溶胶凝胶法 将元素生长为单晶，以及(2)用 脉冲激光沉积(PLD)。声学C扫描图像的每个像素将 提供有关吸收、弹性特性和密度的信息 组织细胞，这可能会改善可视化和临床评估 一致的细胞恶性模式。将形成C扫描图像 采用了一种新技术，它利用压电致动器来精确和 栅格格式的可靠微步进，用于数据采集和图像 演示文稿。建议的临床应用的可行性评估 设计将在托马斯·杰斐逊大学医院进行 (宾夕法尼亚州费城)声学成像将拍摄各种各样的正常 组织标本和测量的声学特征与 通过标准的透射式和反射式光学技术获得 组织特性化。 建议的商业应用： 4.0 GHz声学显微镜为医学和材料科学应用提供了显著的好处。如果成功，分层制造公司准备将该技术授权给所有感兴趣的超声系统公司。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A novel, broadband scanning acoustic microscope (SAM) for in vivo imaging and characterization of micro-cellular biological tissue structures is proposed. It will operate at a frequency of 4.0 GHz, which offers a resolution of less than 0.4 microns, orders of magnitude less than that commercially available for medical diagnostic and non-destructive testing applications. The transducer will be fabricated by two methods: (1) utilizing a sol-gel process to grow the element as a single crystal, and (2) forming the element with pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Each pixel of an acoustic C-Scan image will provide information about the absorption, elastic properties and density of tissue cells, which may improve the visualization and clinical assessment of consistent patterns of cellular malignancy. The C-Scan image will be formed with a novel technique that utilizes a piezoelectric actuator for precise and reliable micro-stepping in a raster format for data acquisition and image presentation. A feasibility assessment of the clinical utility of the proposed design will be carried out at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (Philadelphia., PA). Acoustic images will be taken of a wide variety of normal tissue specimens and the measured acoustic features compared with those obtained with standard transmissive and reflective optical techniques for tissue characterization. Proposed Commercial Application: A 4.0 GHz acoustic microscope offer significant benefits for both medical and material science applications. If successful, Layered Manufacturing Inc. is prepared to license the technology to all interested ultrasound system companies.